Security barrier

ABSTRACT

A security barrier apparatus that includes a ground sleeve that is concreted into the ground at finish grade height and a uniquely configured jam member that is movable within the ground sleeve from a first free position to a second jammed position in engagement with the inner wall of the tubular sleeve. Connected to the jam member and extending upwardly therefrom is an elongated tension bar having an upper, internally threaded portion that is receivable within the hollow body portion of the apparatus. The jam member includes a tapered wall portion that is mateable with a tapered wall portion provided on the lower portion of the apparatus. A draw bolt extends through the cover of the ground sleeve and is adapted to threadably engage the upper threaded portion of the tension bar. Rotation of the draw bolt will cause the jam member to move upwardly within the ground sleeve in a manner to cause the tapered surface of the jam member to move into jamming engagement with the tapered surface of the ground sleeve securely locking the apparatus in place.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to security barriers. Moreparticularly, the invention concerns a barrier having a removablebollard body portion for selectively preventing ingress and egress to acontrolled space.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art

A number of different types of devices for controlling parking spaceaccess have been suggested in the past. In its simplest form, a cementpost is often used as a bollard to protect an exterior wall of abuilding or some other structure. Removal of this type of bollard isonly achievable with great difficulty and typically such bollards arenot removed until the entire unit is replaced. However, in manyinstances it is highly desirable that the bollard be temporarily removedto reconfigure the controlled space or to allow free access to thecontrolled space for selected periods of time.

Accordingly, various types of removable barrier devices have beendesigned and can be operated in various ways. As a general rule, theprior art removable type barriers are of a complex construction and inmany instances include elaborate and expensive mechanisms for operatingthe bollard.

As will be better appreciated from the discussion which follows, thethrust of the present invention is to provide an improved bollard-typebarrier that is of simple construction, is easy to install and is highlyreliable in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

By way of brief summary, the security barrier apparatus of the presentinvention is of a simple, easy-to-use construction that comprises aground sleeve that is concreted into the ground at finish grade height.Disposed within the lower portion of the ground sleeve is a uniquelyconfigured jam member that is movable within the ground sleeve from afirst free position to a second jammed position in engagement with theinner wall of the tubular sleeve.

Connected to the jam member and extending upwardly therefrom is anelongated tension bar having an upper, internally threaded portion thatis receivable within the hollow body portion of the bollard. The jammember uniquely includes a tapered wall portion that is mateable with atapered wall portion provided on the lower portion of the bollard body.

In one form of the invention, a draw bolt extends through the cover ofthe ground sleeve and is adapted to threadably engage the upper threadedportion of the tension bar. With this construction, with the jam memberpositioned within the ground sleeve, rotation of the draw bolt willcause the jam member to move upwardly within the ground sleeve in amanner to cause the tapered surface of the jam member to move intoengagement with the tapered surface of the ground sleeve. Continuedupward movement of the jam member through continued rotation of the drawbolt will cause the jam member to move into jamming engagement with theinner wall of the ground sleeve thereby securely locking the bollard inposition.

With the forgoing in mind, it is an object of the present invention toprovide a novel, bollard-type security barrier apparatus which is of asimple design, is easy to install and remove by unskilled workman and isrelatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of thecharacter described which can be securely locked in its erectedconfiguration in a manner to prevent unauthorized removal of the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus as describedin the preceding paragraphs which includes a minimum number of movingparts, is easy and inexpensive to install, but yet is highly reliable inuse.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a generally perspective view of one form of the bollardapparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side-elevational, exploded view of the bollard apparatusshown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a side-elevational view, partly broken away to show internalconstruction, illustrating the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 in a raised,locked configuration.

FIG. 6 is a side-elevational view of an alternate form of the bollardapparatus of the invention partly broken away to show internalconstruction.

FIG. 6A is a greatly enlarged view of the area designated in FIG. 6 as6A-6A.

FIG. 7 is a side-elevational, exploded view of the alternate form of theapparatus shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged side-elevational view, partly broken away to showinternal construction, illustrating the apparatus in a raised, lockedconfiguration.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 through 5, oneform of the barrier apparatus of the present invention for controllingaccess to a controlled space is there shown and generally identified bythe numeral 12. This form of the apparatus comprises a subterraneantubular sleeve 14 having an upper end 14 a and a lower end 14 b. As bestseen in FIG. 5 of the drawings, sleeve 14 is concreted into the ground“G” in a manner such that upper end 14 a is located at finished gradeheight.

Receivable within tubular sleeve 14 is a uniquely configured jamassembly 16 (FIG. 4) which is movable within the sleeve from a first,free position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 to a second jammed position shownin FIG. 5 wherein the generally cylindrically shaped jam membercomponent 16 a of the jam assembly 16 is in locked engagement with theinner surface 14 c of the tubular sleeve. As illustrated in thedrawings, jam member 16 a is provided with a tapered, upper surface 18,the purpose of which will presently be described. Also forming a part ofthe jam assembly 16 is an elongated tension bar 20. As best seen in FIG.4, the lower portion 20 a of the tension bar is interconnected withmember 16 a by any suitable means such as welding and the threaded upperportion 20 b thereof is adapted to be received within the importantbollard assemblage 22 of the invention.

Bollard assemblage 22 here comprises a generally cylindrically shapedbollard body 24 having an upper portion 24 a and a lower portion 24 b.Disposed between the upper and lower portions of the bollard body is aground engaging flange of 26 for engagement with the ground when thebollard assemblage is mated with the ground sleeve in the manner shownin FIG. 5. Upper portion 24 a of the bollard body is suitably closed bya generally dome-shaped cover 30 that is provided with a centralaperture 30 a. For a purpose presently to be described, lower portion 24b of the bollard body, which is telescopically receivable within theupper portion of the sleeve 14, includes a tapered surface 33 that ismateable with the tapered surface 18 of the jam member 16 a. In thepresent form of the invention the tapered surfaces 18 and 33respectively of the jam member and the bollard body extend at an angle“α” of approximately 30° with respect to the longitudinal axis “A” ofthe bollard body (see FIG. 5).

Forming a part of the actuating means of the invention for moving thejam assembly 16 into a jammed position, is an elongated draw bolt 32.Draw bolt 32 has an externally threaded shank portion 32 a and aninterconnected head portion 32 b. As indicated in FIGS. 1 and 5, thethreaded shank portion 32 a of the draw bolt is adapted to extendthrough central aperture 30 a of the cover 30 for threadable engagementwith the internally threaded upper portion 20 b of the tension bar andthe head portion 32 b is adapted to engage the upper surface of thedome-shaped cover 30. Head portion 32 b can be of a conventionalhexagonal construction, which will accept a standard wrench, oralternatively can be specially configured, as for example, in the shapeof a paragon or other selected configuration which will accept only awrench of special configuration.

With the construction described in the preceding paragraphs, rotation ofthe draw bolt using a suitable wrench, will cause the jam assembly 16 tomove upwardly so as to cause the tapered surface 18 of the jam member 16a to move into engagement with the tapered surface 33 of the bollardassemblage 22. Continued upward movement of the jam assembly 16 throughcontinued rotation of the draw bolt 32 will cause the jam member 16 a tomove into jamming engagement with the inner wall of the ground sleevethereby securely locking the bollard assemblage in position (see FIG.5).

Disposed within body portion 24 are upper and lower guide members, orwashers 36 and 38. Washers 36 and 38 each have central apertures whichare adapted to closely receive and guide the travel of the tension bar20 within the bollard assemblage.

Turning next to FIGS. 6 and 7, an alternate form of the security barrierapparatus of the present invention is there shown and generallydesignated by the numeral 40. This alternate form of the apparatus issimilar in many respects to that shown in FIGS. 1 through 5 and likenumerals are used in FIGS. 6 and 7 to identify like complements. Theprimary difference between this latest form of the invention and theform previously described resides in the fact that locking means areprovided to prevent unauthorized removal of the bollard.

As before, the apparatus comprises a subterranean tubular sleeve 14having an upper portion 14 a and a lower portion 14 b. Sleeve 14, whichis concreted into the ground 37 G”, is of identical construction to thatpreviously described. Disposed within tubular sleeve 14 is a generallycylindrically shaped, uniquely configured jam member 16 a, which is alsoidentical in construction and operation to that previously described, ismovable within the sleeve from a first free position to a second jammedposition shown in FIG. 8 wherein the jam member is in locked engagementwith the inner surface 14 c of the tubular sleeve.

Also forming a part of the barrier apparatus of this latest form of theinvention is a generally cylindrically shaped bollard body 42 which isof a slightly different construction. Body 42 has an open-ended upperportion 42 a and a lower portion 42 b. Upper portion 42 a is here closedby a removable, generally dome-shaped cover 44 that defines an interiorspace 44 a. As before, lower portion 42 b of the bollard body includes atapered surface 46 that is mateable with the tapered surface 18 of thejam member. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the lower portion 42 b of thebollard body is telescopically receivable within upper portion of sleeve14. When so mated, the flange portion 48 of the bollard assembly isdisposed at ground level.

An elongated tension bar 50, which is of slightly differentconstruction, has a threaded upper portion 50 a and a lower portion 50 bthat is interconnected with jam member 16 a by any suitable means suchas welding. Affixed, as by fillet welding, within the upper portion 42 aof the generally cylindrically shaped bollard body 42 are first andsecond spaced-apart, apertured plates 52 and 54 the purpose of whichwill presently be described.

In this latest embodiment of the invention, the threaded shank portion56 a of a draw bolt 56 extends through aperture 54 a of apertured plate54 (see FIGS. 6A and 7) and is adapted to threadably engage the upperportion 50 a of the elongated tension bar 50 in the manner shown in FIG.6 of the drawings. As illustrated in FIG. 6, draw bolt 56, which formsapart of the actuating means of this latest form of the invention, has ahead portion 56 b that is disposed in engagement with the upper surfaceof the apertured plate 54.

As best seen in FIG. 6A, upper plate 52 is provided with a through hole52 a which provides access to bolt head 56 b. With this construction,and with the draw bolt 56 in threadable engagement with the upperportion 50 a of the elongated tension bar 50, rotation of the draw boltusing a wrench of correct configuration, will cause the jam member 16 ato move into engagement with the tapered surface 46 of the bollardassemblage 42. Continued upward movement of the jam assembly throughcontinued rotation of the draw bolt 56 will cause the jam member 16 a tomove into jamming engagement with the inner wall of the ground sleevethereby securely locking the bollard assemblage in position.

As before, upper and lower guide members or washers 36 and 38 aredisposed within body portion 42 for guiding the travel of the tensionbar 50 within the bollard assemblage.

As previously mentioned, the apparatus of this latest form of theinvention uniquely includes locking means for preventing unauthorizedaccess to the actuating means of the invention. This novel locking meanshere includes an upstanding staple 58 that is affixed to upper plate 52.Staple 58 is adapted to receive the locking bolt 60 a of a conventionallock 60 that resides within the interior space 44 a of the cover 44.

With the construction described in the preceding paragraphs, it isapparent that access to the draw bolt 56 of the actuating means of theinvention cannot be achieved without the removal of the lock 60 by anauthorized person. However, when an authorized person removes the lock,the draw bolt can be accessed via the through hole 52 a and can berotated by a correctly configured wrench in a manner to disconnect thedraw bolt from the tension bar and thereby enable separation of thebollard assembly from the ground sleeve so as to permit unrestrainedaccess to the control area.

Having now described the invention in detail in accordance with therequirements of the patent statutes, those skilled in this art will haveno difficulty in making changes and modifications in the individualparts or their relative assembly in order to meet specific requirementsor conditions. Such changes and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the invention, as set forth inthe following claims.

1. A barrier apparatus comprising: (a) a sleeve having an upper portionand a lower portion; (b) a jam member disposed within said lower portionof said sleeve, said jam member being movable within said sleeve from afirst free position to a second jammed position in engagement with saidtubular sleeve; (c) a bollard body having an upper portion and a lowerportion, said lower portion of said bollard body being receivable withinsaid. upper portion of said sleeve; (d) an elongated tension bardisposed within said bollard body and extending from said upper portionthereof to said lower portion thereof, said tension bar having an upperportion and a lower portion interconnected with said jam member; and (e)actuating means operably interconnected with said tension bar for movingsaid jam member from said first free position to said second jammedposition.
 2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said upperportion of said elongated tension bar is threaded and in which saidactuating means comprises a draw bolt threadably engageable with saidupper portion of said elongated tension bar sleeve.
 3. The apparatus asdefined in claim 1 in which said bollard body and said jam member aregenerally cylindrical in shape.
 4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3in which said bollard body has a radially outwardly extending flangedisposed between said upper and lower portions thereof.
 5. The apparatusas defined in claim 4 in which said jam member includes a lower taperedwall portion and in which said lower portion of said bollard bodyincludes a tapered surface mateable with said tapered wall portion ofsaid jam member.
 6. The apparatus as defined in claim 5 in which saidsleeve has a longitudinal axis and in which said tapered surfaces ofsaid jam member and said bollard body extend at an angle ofapproximately 30° with respect to said longitudinal axis.
 7. Theapparatus as defined in claim 5, further including a plurality ofapertured washers disposed within said bollard body for guiding travelof said tension bar therewithin.
 8. A barrier apparatus for controllingaccess to a controlled space comprising: (a) a subterranean tubularsleeve having an upper and lower portion; (b) a generally cylindricallyshaped jam member disposed within said lower portion of said sleeve,said jam member being movable within said sleeve from a first freeposition to a second jammed position in engagement with said tubularsleeve; (c) a generally cylindrically shaped bollard body having anupper portion and a lower portion, said lower portion of said bollardbody being receivable within said upper portion of said sleeve; (d) anelongated tension bar disposed within said bollard body and extendingfrom said upper portion thereof to said lower portion thereof, saidtension bar having a threaded upper portion and a lower portioninterconnected with said jam member; and (e) actuating meansinterconnected with said tension bar for moving said jam member fromsaid first free position to said second jammed position, said actuatingmeans comprising a draw bolt threadably engageable with said upperportion of said elongated tension bar.
 9. The apparatus as defined inclaim 8, in which said bollard body further includes a ground engagingflange disposed intermediate said upper portion and said lower portion.10. The apparatus as defined in claim 8 in which said upper portion ofsaid bollard body is open and in which said apparatus further includes acover for closing said open end of said bollard body.
 11. The apparatusas defined in claim 10 in which, said cover has an upper surface and isprovided with an aperture and in which said draw bolt includes athreaded shank portion and an interconnected head portion, said threadedshank portion extending through said aperture in said cover and saidhead portion engaging said upper surface of said cover.
 12. Theapparatus as defined in claim 11 in which said jam member includes alower tapered wall portion and in which said lower portion of saidbollard body includes a tapered surface mateable with said tapered wallportion of said jam member, whereby rotation of said draw bolt will urgesaid tapered wall portion of said jam member into engagement with saidtapered surface of said lower body of said bollard and will move saidjam member into jamming engagement with said subterranean tubularsleeve.
 13. The apparatus as defined in claim 12 in which said sleevehas a longitudinal axis and in which said tapered surfaces of said jammember and said bollard body extend at an acute angle with respect tosaid longitudinal axis.
 14. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 inwhich said acute angle is approximately 30°.
 15. The apparatus asdefined in claim 13, further including a plurality of alignment washersdisposed within said bollard body for guiding the travel of said tensionbar therewithin.
 16. A barrier apparatus for controlling access to acontrolled space comprising: (a) a subterranean tubular sleeve having anupper portion and a lower portion; (b) a generally cylindrically shapedjam member disposed within said lower portion of said sleeve, said jammember being movable within said sleeve from a first free position to asecond jammed position in engagement with said tubular sleeve; (c) agenerally cylindrically shaped bollard body having an upper portion anda lower portion, said lower portion of said bollard body beingreceivable within said upper portion of said sleeve; (d) a firstapertured plate disposed within said bollard body; (e) an elongatedtension bar disposed within said bollard body and extending from saidupper portion thereof to said lower portion thereof, said tension barhaving a threaded upper portion and a lower portion interconnected withsaid jam member; and (f) a draw bolt threadably engageable with saidupper portion of said elongated tension bar sleeve, said draw bolthaving a threaded shank portion extending through said first aperturedplate and a head portion in engagement with said aperture plate.
 17. Theapparatus as defined in claim 16 further including a second aperturedplate disposed within said bollard body at a spaced-apart location fromsaid first apertured plate and a cover member removably connected tosaid bollard body.
 18. The apparatus as defined in claim 17, furtherincluding locking means carried by said second apertured plate forpreventing unauthorized access to said draw bolt.
 19. The apparatus asdefined in claim 18 in which said locking means comprises a stapleconnected to said second apertured plate.
 20. The apparatus as definedin claim 19 in which said locking means further comprises a lockreleasably interconnected with said staple.